Catch up day again ...
Mar25:
One of the strangest stories yet. I'll make no comment about this other than the way the story ends ... "there was no king - everyone did as he saw fit." Without a sense of morality that is beyond MY OWN THINKING - which means there will be things I don't like about the law, then there is no purpose for the people. Everyone needs a sense of guidance and direction. Rules aren't fun - but they are necessary for everyone.

Mar26:

When we went through nearly 2 years of infertility, this story of Hannah was our rock! Hannah's prayer of desperation is a commitment to her son being a Nazirite ... like John the Baptist.

Elkanah must have thought that Hannah was losing her mind. Before, she wept because she had love but no son. Now she has gained that son but talks about leaving him at the temple to live .... women! hehe

I was just thinking about the environment that Samuel was raised in. His "peers" - Eli's sons - were pure evil. Yet, he seemed to be protected from taking on that lifestyle ...

Mar27:

I love what the Lord says to Samuel ... "I'm going to make everyones ears tingle ..." I see that as a great sign of excitement! It also becomes more clear that God's judgement against Eli and his family is because of the sin he KNEW ABOUT but didn't address. Causes me to stop and think ... are their sins that I'm turning a deaf ear to ... of my own, of others in church leadership? There is this fine line of extending grace and expecting righteousness ... it's a tough line to find on our own.

The story of the Ark of the Covenant is cool. That it kept knocking over the statue of Dagon, that it's very presence would send towns into an uproar ... God is powerful. In the first 7 chapters of the book of Samuel, Sam looks like a faithful and God-fearing leader.

Catch up day ...

Mar19: Judges 6 ...
Gideon is a fantastic story! I'm reading this late but it is so timely for me today - I just got my tax bill!! We are used to a refund ... not this year ... I'll be paying it out throughout the year! Not fun ... but if God can take an army of 32,000 down to 300 and still defeat the army of the enemy, then He can take care of my need! And yours!

Some cool thoughts from this story ...
1) God said, "Go in the strength you have ..." In other words, you might not think you have what it takes, but God says, I'll use what you have and do amazing things with it.
2) Gideon was honest and admitted he often had fear: he broke down the Baal altar at night because he was afraid and he spied on the city before he raided it because he was afraid.
3) Despite his fear, God called him a mighty warrior and used him to bring peace to his people for 40 years! That's a long time!

I also appreciate how Gideon handled criticism. He was straightforward and to the point and the problem went away.

Mar20:
The dude (Gideon) had 70 sons! What was he thinking?

Mar21:
I love the honest words of the Lord when he says, "Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble."

This story of Jephthah grips me. We make a big deal about Abraham nearly sacrificing Isaac but what about Jep sacrificing his daughter as a burnt offering after his victory? Wow - he told her about the vow before the Lord and then he had to follow through. What is so moving is that she willingly allows it to happen. It's he closest thing to the doctor saying, "you have two months to live." The scriptures seem to gloss right over it but I think it's amazingly powerful!!

Mar22:
Happy Birthday Sis!
Enter the faithful woman - NAOMI. Her husband and her are the earliest people listed from Bethlehem that I've noted in my reading. It's the first time I've heard of this (soon to be) well known city. A famine forces them to leave their home and death follows for Naomi's husband and her two sons. Even more, she releases her daughter-in-laws to leave her ... she has lost everything! But Ruth remained faithfully by her side. Too cool.

Now the power of this story is scene in the heritage that follows. Not only is Ruth redeemed by Boaz but she conceives a son - Obed, who is the grandfather of David - soon to be the 2nd King of Israel's nation! What would have been different if Ruth would have taken the easy road and gone back to her parents? Instead, she chose the righteous path and witnessed a great part of Israel's story and joined the line of people that would eventually give us the Messiah (humanly speaking).

Mar23:
From the pleasant, inspiring story of RUTH to the self absorbed story of Sampson. In my readings today - I've read some heavy hitters! [Gideon, Ruth, Sampson ...]

There's a cool scene in this Sampson story I've never paid close attention to. The angel the tells about Sampson's pending birth and life tells his parents to offer a burnt offering sacrifice to the Lord. While they are watching the fire burn, the angel "ascended in the flame toward heaven." That is too cool! Stuff SciFi is made out of.

Samson's wife choice is interesting. From an outsiders perspective, Sampson is wacked out. But this is from the Lord to choose a Philistine woman. It goes against his law to marry outside of the Jewish family line but then again - God is God.

There's so much to write about in Samson's narrative but the thing that stands out is Delilah's persistence - and Samson's blindness due to his love for her.

Mar24:
Powerful verse for us today: "In those days, Israel had no king;everyone did as he saw fit." Later, this also sounds familiar - "they saw that the people were living in safety, unsuspecting and secure. They were prosperous."

Mar17:
(Judges 2:10) It blows my mind that Israel's next generation grew up to neither know God nor his commands. Some of the greatest scriptures I've read so far about the commands to "never forget", to "tell your children while lying down, walking, etc", or to "be careful to do all I've commanded." How could these people inherit this land and then so quickly forget about the Lord. Then I think of America. Let's just consider how differently we considered Christian values just one or two generations ago. I read these scriptures and think "how dumb do you have to be" and then I realize, we aren't much different!

I'm sorry ... but I chuckled at the story about Ehud killing the king of the Moabites who was very fat. That they mention the sword he used to kill the king was 18" long, and that the handle actually went in through the fat and that the fat covered it ... well ... it was funny. I'm sorry. Don't mean to be insenstive but it struck me as graphically chuckle-able.

Mar18:
Interesting to see Deborah lead Israel as it's 4th Judge. In it's time, I'm sure women's lib wasn't even thought of. I wonder if it's why her commander would march with out her there ...? She certainly was connected with the Lord, He blessed her and she was a great leader - so far.

Mar13:
I'm on target! Yipee! "... the Lord said to him, 'You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over." I interpret this way " ... you are getting old but your job isn't done - it never is! Don't quit - never give up!"

I also noticed Joseph's tribe complaining a little bit ... "our land is to small" or my words "my house isn't big enough." Joshua stands his ground and says if you want more, you'll have to clear the land yourself - which is great - these people didn't clearn the land or build up these cities! Get a grip! When they complain they mention that the people they'd need to conquer "have better things" than us ... does this sound familiar?? "My house isn't big enough and our neighbors have better things ..." HELLO!?

Joshua holds firm - though they have better things - you can drive them out!

Mar11:
I wonder what they inhabitants of Jericho thought watching this army circle around their town and then return home ... strange. They did respect the power of Israel's God - they had heard about his miraculous acts - Rahab told us that. Still, they had to think this was a stupid strategy.

Even in victory, a small group of Israelites take for themselves and God's anger burns ... The Lord is watching every detail! You can't HIDE from God! Period. The dude hid the plunder in the ground inside his tent ... you can't hide your junk in the trunk! Interesting timing in my reading of this "hidden sin" becoming public as I watched the Gov. of NY resign today from his sex scandal.

If you are trying to hide something from God - stop! You are only fooling yourself! Sins need to be confessed and dealt with severely for the Lord to bless and give great victory!


Mar12:
Israel just secured a wonderful victory at Ai by outsmarting the enemy. No sooner did that happen that they get outsmarted themselves! How did this happen? "... but they did no inquire of the Lord." That's how! They took what they could at face value - the old clothes, the old bread, the old wine skins, everything they could see with they eyes ... and made a LOGICAL decision - without inquiring of the Lord. It leads to frustration and trouble every time! And yet we do it over and over and over again, don't we?? When will we learn?

Learned something new today: The Lord used HAILSTONES to wup up on an enemy army! Too cool God!

I like this verse: "As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it." That's a really cool progression of discipleship in many ways. Too cool.

I'm wondering ... after all this war ... what do you do with all those bodies. I mean this is genocide taking place. It would never fly in today's world by the way ... When Israel was divided into it's inheritence, did people have to remove dead bodies from homes? Did they re-settle directly into those built homes and towns? What an amazing time to have been able to witness.

Mar9:
Moses did a lot for the Lord. He went back to a land where he was wanted for murder. He dealt with Israel's constant bickering and complaining. He led them to the edge of the Promised Land and there he failed. Despite that shortcoming, he did a lot. I think (from my limited human perspective) the Lord seems rather tough on this guy. He seemed to score about a 98% on his leadership test and yet - he doesn't even receive a thank you. I'm not expecting a big thank you at the end of my journey but it struck me - what does the Lord think of my work? How would he rate my effort to "lead His people" in my neck of the woods? I'd be happy with a score much lower than Moses' that's for sure - it's tough work. I (with all due respect to the Lord) think Moses should have gotten into the Promised Land. The best part of his character is that despite doing all this for the Lord - and being barred from the Land he desperately wanted to experience - I don't read one word of Moses' complaining or arguing about his fate - could be that he authored these words and he creatively left them out - or it could be that he had a great perspective of the magnitude of God. I vote for the latter.

I like our commentators words here:
Abraham taught his family about faith.
Moses taught this nation about law.
One is coming that will teach the entire world about grace and love. JESUS!

Mar10:
Fantastic words:
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be care to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do no let this Book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Why did the spies go to the house of the prostitute and stay there? Did they use her services? It doesn't clarify this to us at all? One is left to assume they did.

"Be strong and courageous" must have become the "vision statement" of this young nation under Joshua's control. As the Reubenites and Gadites respond to Joshua regarding their commitment to fight, they too, end their discussion with that phrase. Interesting.

Can you imagine the excitement that Israel is feeling on this morning? They are finally crossing over into the land they've heard about all of their lives. Many of these people didn't experience Egypt. They've only known about the journey - which was coming to an end. I can only imagine the excitement - and nervousness.

What is the difference between Moses' experience at the Red Sea and the Jordan River? The Red Sea didn't have a flow ... it had to "wall up" on both sides - creating a crazy experience of walking through a "half pike" in today's terms. This Jordan River had to be "walled up" only upstream, causing an unusual dryness to occur downstream. Of course - in typical God-style - He didn't pick the natural dry season to cross the Jordan - the Lord showed His power and might by holding back the river when it was already at it's traditional flood stage. There had to be great flooding upstream as these waters were miraculously stopped. I would imagine this would also cause a wider space to cross for Israel.

I envision this river being the key to keeping Israel from running back to their "old life" too. Once they crossed the river, they had no way of returning - it was all or nothing now! No turning back! Cool!

God also began to wain his children from himself in many ways ... or began to prepare them for their new homes. The flow of manna stopped just as the produce from Canaan could be enjoyed. God began to put the taste of the Promised Land in their life - a taste that could only be satisfied by conquering the land. This was likely done to give the Israelites the resolve to obey the Lord even more than before.

How cool is the arrival of the "Commander of the Lord's Army"? Really cool!!! Here we go!!

Isn't this better than the law and sacrifices??!!! Go God!!

Mar4:
Interesting that the Eagle is on the detestible bird list (along with the vulture, several owls, and the bat). How would you feel if you were on God's "detestible list"?

In the midst of these diatery regulations, it's challenging to see this as a sign of "holiness". Yet the Lord consistently says, "Don't defile yourself with these animals but be holy as I am holy." It's so foreign for me to think that eating these things (which I don't) would make me 'unholy'. Hmmm....

Mar5:
Now I'm all about discipline but this is rough > "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and his mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father ... shall take hold of him ... then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge eveil from among you." Deut. 21.18-21 I wonder if they actually obeyed this law or not - if there was a time that Israel actually followed it?

"Deut. 20:4 - For the Lord you God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." That's so encouraging. I think that because we've been defeated in the past, we often think the Lord is absent from our battles. Couldn't be further from the truth.

There's an interesting distinction between cities that Israel will conquer far from them verse the cities/nations of the Holy Land - the Promised Land. Cities far away should be offered peace, and then pummle them if they say no. Cities that are a part of God's inheritance - there will be no negotiations and no survivors. It's like God knows that we can handle daily, repetitive tempation to sin. He says, if you don't purge those cities, those people will show you how to worship their gods, etc. God knows our weaknesses and tried to set this up to avoid the traps that would come.

Mar6:
This reading is interesting. If you obey me, life will be good. If you don't obey me, life will stink. If you continue to disobey me, life will really stink. If you continue to disabey me, life will reek and you'll wish you were dead. But if you repent, I'll remember my covenant with Jacob, Isaac and Abraham and we'll be good again. Hmm....

Mar 1:
Could this reading day be any longer? Wow! Makes up for not having readings on Feb 29 this year.

I was drawn to God's generosity in this reading. I appreciate the fact that God acknowledges that "there will always be poor among you" but we are to treat them with generosity - not look down upon them. How does this impact my life in 2008? In huge ways! How am I meeting the needs of the poor around me? Am I living generously? Honestly, I can't imagine having the financial freedom to be able to meet needs because we live (as a society) so close to the edge of financial ruin ... know what I mean? This is challenging.

Anyone else appreciate that God commanded the widow to spit in her brother-in-law's face if he refused to marry her ... imagine that church function!

Mar2:
This reading was a stretch. I like the first year of marriage - "For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married." New code word for sex = "bring happiness" Moses was not referring to doing the laundry, making the beds, fixing dinner ... bring happiness men!

There are some incredible run-on sentences here ... Deut. 24.1-4 is one example - wow!

I also noticed that God is dealing with these sins very sharply ... he says "you must purge the evil from Israel". Purging is a very difficult and painful process. I've got a couple of friends purging their bodies right now of medications and such - it's a horrible pain of dependency that must be broken. Is there sin/evil that must be purged. I'm going through such a time personally that I won't reveal but it's amazing how purging is beneficial to the good areas of your life! Don't be afraid of eliminating the temptations and evils found in your home in order to purge the act. Be strong and courageous!

Mar3:
I wonder why the priest had to examine those feared to have leprosy? Weren't they busy killing lambs and pigeons and such? I like what the composer says in his notes: "there is a close relationship between cleanliness and godliness." Interesting. I see this too as a way that God was trying to protect his nation from killing itself off with nasty/untreatable diseases that were now a part of his "sinful" creation.

I'm glad my title isn't "Associate Pastor of Infectious Disease Examination" ;)